tusked animal crossword clue – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Crosswordanswer.co.uk! If you're looking for solutions to the clue "tusked animal crossword clue," you've come to the right place. We provide comprehensive answers for all word lengths, along with explanations to help you understand why each answer fits.
Solutions for "tusked animal crossword clue" by Letter Count
4 Letters
BOAR: A wild pig species characterized by its prominent tusks, often found in European and Asian forests.
6 Letters
WALRUS: A large marine mammal with long, downward-pointing tusks, native to the Arctic seas.
7 Letters
NARWHAL: An Arctic whale famous for its single, long, spiraled tusk, which is actually an elongated canine tooth.
MAMMOTH: An extinct elephant-like mammal noted for its very large, curved tusks, commonly found in ice age puzzles.
8 Letters
ELEPHANT: The largest land animal, easily recognized by its trunk and impressive tusks, which are modified incisor teeth.
More About "tusked animal crossword clue"
The clue "tusked animal" is a classic in crosswords, pointing to a range of fascinating creatures known for their distinctive dental features. While elephants are perhaps the most iconic tusked animals, many others exist across different environments, from the icy Arctic to dense forests. Understanding the variety can help you pinpoint the correct answer based on the letter count and surrounding clues.
Tusks are elongated, continuously growing front teeth that serve multiple purposes for these animals, including digging, defense, lifting, and even for display. For example, a walrus uses its tusks to haul itself out of the water onto ice, while a wild boar's tusks are primarily for digging and defense. This functional diversity is often hinted at in more complex crossword clues.
When you encounter this clue, consider the context of the puzzle. Is it looking for a common animal, an extinct one, or perhaps a marine creature? Paying attention to the puzzle's theme or the adjacent words can often narrow down the possibilities significantly, allowing you to choose between a BOAR, WALRUS, ELEPHANT, MAMMOTH, or even a NARWHAL.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Check Letter Count First: Always match the number of letters you have available to the potential answers. For "tusked animal," this immediately helps you differentiate between a 4-letter BOAR and an 8-letter ELEPHANT.
- Consider Commonality: Some answers are more common in crosswords than others. ELEPHANT and WALRUS are frequent answers, while NARWHAL might appear in slightly more challenging puzzles.
- Look for Contextual Clues: Sometimes the clue might be "Arctic tusked animal" (hinting at WALRUS or NARWHAL) or "extinct tusked animal" (pointing to MAMMOTH). Always read the full clue carefully.
- Cross-Reference with Intersecting Words: The most reliable way to confirm an answer is to ensure it fits perfectly with the words crossing it. If a letter doesn't match, your "tusked animal" answer is likely incorrect.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are tusks made of?
Tusks are elongated, continuously growing front teeth (either incisors or canines) that protrude outside the mouth. They are primarily composed of dentin, a bony tissue, often with a thin layer of enamel, and contain a central pulp cavity. In elephants, tusks are modified incisors, while in walruses and narwhals, they are modified canines.
Why do some animals have tusks?
Tusks serve a variety of functions depending on the animal. They can be used for digging for food, lifting objects, self-defense against predators, establishing dominance, marking territory, or even for locomotion (like walruses hauling themselves onto ice). In narwhals, the tusk is believed to be a sensory organ, aiding in navigation and foraging.
Are all tusked animals dangerous?
While many tusked animals, especially larger species like elephants or wild boars, possess formidable tusks for defense and can be dangerous if threatened or provoked, their tusks are primarily tools for survival within their natural habitats. It's crucial to remember that all wild animals should be observed from a safe distance and treated with respect.